it's residing in my Amazon basket as I type; the only reason why it hasn't been purchased yet is the fact that complete sets of Mahler/ Schubert & Brahms symphonies all still sit on my 'to be listened to' shelf..

Pulled this off the shelf as I haven't listened to it in years: I like it more now, frankly.

I have not pulled that of my shelves for a while either, I have a number of his recordings, including some when he was a member of Soft Machine and Nucleus back in the seventies, his music sure has changed since then...

Firstly, I have to say that I'm on my 3rd listen, and I enjoy this performance very much, probably more than Rattle's. The textures do seem to be 'thinner' but that makes the individual parts of the orchestra clearer and more defined, with the consequence that I feel I can better appreciate the piece's constituent parts, and interplay between the individual instruments in a way that isn't quite as evident with the heralded Rattle performance...

and yet, the PG gives this performance a bit of a panning as 'lacking the finer Mahlerian colouring of later recordings' with the finale 'particularly lacking a sense of tragic weight'... whilst Gramophone don't even mention this recording at all

Jared wrote:^^ I'm please you've enjoyed the Elgar chamber music Fergus, as it doesn't seem to get a lot of exposure. It's been on my wishlist for some time, so I may have to purchase in due course.

I would not be a big fan of Elgar's orchestral music Jared to be honest but I have that disc for some years now and I really enjoy both of the works that are on it.

tbh, I was a little surprised (although pleasantly) that you possessed it, Fergus..

I do appreciate that Elgar's Orchestral works aren't to everyone's taste (indeed there are some that aren't to mine, either) but if you ever wish to dip your toe into these murky waters, please try his Violin Concerto with Kennedy/ Handley... it's quite accessible, and Kennedy really nails it..

Fergus wrote:
I am not....it is known that I never liked this version as I find it too velvety and syrupy for my taste....but that is just me

I'd have gone for the adjective 'silky' rather than 'syrupy' myself, but thanks for your comments.. The Ormandy doesn't come across as being especially 'Late Romantic', does it? That said, I do really like the textures, and am pleased I now own it to compliment the others...

Fergus wrote:Elgar – String Quartet in A minor played by the Maggini String Quartet....

....wonderful and exciting music!!

Fergus:

That is one of my favorite recordings of all time, as is the reading of the Piano Quintet! I play it often: the Maggini Quartet surely have the measure of this music. The slow movement of the Piano Quintet is so finely nuanced.....a great recording!

Firstly, I have to say that I'm on my 3rd listen, and I enjoy this performance very much, probably more than Rattle's. The textures do seem to be 'thinner' but that makes the individual parts of the orchestra clearer and more defined, with the consequence that I feel I can better appreciate the piece's constituent parts, and interplay between the individual instruments in a way that isn't quite as evident with the heralded Rattle performance...

and yet, the PG gives this performance a bit of a panning as 'lacking the finer Mahlerian colouring of later recordings' with the finale 'particularly lacking a sense of tragic weight'... whilst Gramophone don't even mention this recording at all

would anyone care to make comment?

Jared:

That is still my favorite recording of Mahler X: I have an autographed copy of the LP set in green marker by Ormandy himself.

PG is editorially biased against American recordings: it's as simple as that. Gramaphone may not have reviewed the disc as it was unavailable for decades and has only recently been reissued.

That is still my favorite recording of Mahler X: I have an autographed copy of the LP set in green marker by Ormandy himself.

PG is editorially biased against American recordings: it's as simple as that. Gramaphone may not have reviewed the disc as it was unavailable for decades and has only recently been reissued.

well, you can see that I also favour this recording as a distinctive compliment to Rattle's ... I've played it through 3 times now, and I'm sure it will have a few more spins in the near future.. thank you for the recommendation, mb..

That is one of my favorite recordings of all time, as is the reading of the Piano Quintet! I play it often: the Maggini Quartet surely have the measure of this music. The slow movement of the Piano Quintet is so finely nuanced.....a great recording!

Interesting comments; this more recent disk has also come highly praised, mb... do you own it?

That is one of my favorite recordings of all time, as is the reading of the Piano Quintet! I play it often: the Maggini Quartet surely have the measure of this music. The slow movement of the Piano Quintet is so finely nuanced.....a great recording!

They really are wonderful performances aren't they....a highly recommended disc to all concerned

bombasticDarren wrote: I am thinking of getting Rattle's 9th next....do you have a view on it?

If its the version from the boxset Darren, then I don't think I'd bother; it's certainly not one of his more memorable works and I think there (must be) many more better versions to spend your hard-earned on...

bombasticDarren wrote: I am thinking of getting Rattle's 9th next....do you have a view on it?

If its the version from the boxset Darren, then I don't think I'd bother; it's certainly not one of his more memorable works and I think there (must be) many more better versions to spend your hard-earned on...

It might be academic now but I was planning on the VPO version, not BPO. Which is on the box set?

Firstly, I have to say that I'm on my 3rd listen, and I enjoy this performance very much, probably more than Rattle's. The textures do seem to be 'thinner' but that makes the individual parts of the orchestra clearer and more defined, with the consequence that I feel I can better appreciate the piece's constituent parts, and interplay between the individual instruments in a way that isn't quite as evident with the heralded Rattle performance...

and yet, the PG gives this performance a bit of a panning as 'lacking the finer Mahlerian colouring of later recordings' with the finale 'particularly lacking a sense of tragic weight'... whilst Gramophone don't even mention this recording at all

would anyone care to make comment?

Jared:

That is still my favorite recording of Mahler X: I have an autographed copy of the LP set in green marker by Ormandy himself.

PG is editorially biased against American recordings: it's as simple as that. Gramaphone may not have reviewed the disc as it was unavailable for decades and has only recently been reissued.

You are so correct in feeling that the texture is thinner. Ormandy's was the first commercially available recording of the 10th and thus used Cooke's earliest version. Cooke himself revised his edition twice (Rattle uses Cooke III with some of Rattle's own changes) plus others joined in the act with their own versions. Along with the Wheeler, Cooke I is the "purest", most austere of the versions and thus I am not surprised some think it is "lacking the finer Mahlerian colouring of later recordings". Sanderling's on Berlin Classics and Chailly's Cooke II and Gielen's Cooke III are the best of the later editions. I find Rattle's disappointing frankly.

What also makes Ormandy's recording so special is that I think it vividly documents the thrill of the discovery of what fabulous music lies within the "ruins" of this incredible work.

Donaldopato wrote:
You are so correct in feeling that the texture is thinner. Ormandy's was the first commercially available recording of the 10th and thus used Cooke's earliest version. Cooke himself revised his edition twice (Rattle uses Cooke III with some of Rattle's own changes) plus others joined in the act with their own versions. Along with the Wheeler, Cooke I is the "purest", most austere of the versions and thus I am not surprised some think it is "lacking the finer Mahlerian colouring of later recordings". Sanderling's on Berlin Classics and Chailly's Cooke II and Gielen's Cooke III are the best of the later editions. I find Rattle's disappointing frankly.

What also makes Ormandy's recording so special is that I think it vividly documents the thrill of the discovery of what fabulous music lies within the "ruins" of this incredible work.

I have now listened to the full complement of discs in the set and my initial impression was that it was not quite what I expected; I do not know exactly what I expected – perhaps music that was more overtly melodious. However, I did not dislike what I heard; it was just different than what I expected and I quite liked a number of the works. I will now go back and listen more attentively and pay more detailed attention to what I hear in the hope that I will gain a greater appreciation of the music in this set. Incidentally, the sound and the playing I found to be fine so that for me was not an issue.